The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-20
THE ROWAN COUNTY FEUD.
1t Originated in Small Bet on Election
Day-Ex- Sheriff Ramey's Story.

1t Originated in a Small Bet Election
Day-Ex- Sheriff Ramey's Story.
Lancaster fwis.J Special.
The report that W. NJ Ramey and Henry,
of Rowan county, Kentucky, were here is true.
That they hiding from justice is. however.
not true, current reports to the contrary not
wthstandiug Mr. Ramey is cousin of j. j.
Mckenzie who is of Lancaster's most
spected citizens. aud is thoroughly reliable. He
is responsible for the following account of Mr..
Ramey'S connection with the recent bloody
fight at Morehead, KY, which created such
sensation The feud, which led up to this
sanguinary climax. and in which the Tollivers
and Martins at first figured alone and with which
DR.. Logan, lawyer Logan and others were sub
sequently connected, is of Ave years standing
and is a personal and not political fight 1t
started on election bet in which So. 80 hat
was the stake Some little trouble over
the bet. which finally led to fight, in which one
man killed Jealousy and revenge has
worked the rest. and has made Rowan county
place unfit for the habitation of peaceable men.
At the time the feud had received good start
Mr. Ramey had been sheriff OF Rowan county
for period of two years, his term of Office
piring last February. He was concerned in
only one of the fights incident to the feud. That
was in his official capacity. On the 9Th of July,
1856. while trying to make some arrests, af
fray occurred in which both the elder and
younger Ramey were wounded. To-day they
carry in their. bodies leaden relics of
the row. In this fight a son Of DIR.
Logan was shot and from the effects
of the wound he died. Young Henry Ramey.
now here. was tried for the killing of young
r.
hired men to kill the Rameys and others at 800
per head; but he was exposed in the matter and
was arrested and held until recently. Lawyer
Logan was on the Toliiver side of the feud until
about ten days before the Morehead tragedy.
At that time a CONF plant was made against some
of his nephews and in making the arrests they
were all shot This led to the final shooting
ARRAY which has generally stirred up things
in Rowan county. Few men were exempt from
danger. The Rameys were the targets for more
than one Kentuckian's Winchester They were
W n nd W inn fhair
farms Morehead they habitually went
armed to the teeth. The younger Ramsy, while
blowing one day. Just prior to the Morehead
when he was fired upon. He returned
the fire, and then leaving his horse standing in
the field, he made for a neghboring station,
reaching it just in time to catch train for More
head. His father who had heard the shot from
his farm, half mile distant, was moved by an
impulse of sef-preservation. and FASTENED to the
train. father and son proceeding to Morehead
together. They have not seen their dangeren-
vironed farms since In Morehead they stopped
at Tolliver's hotel Lawyer Logan was also
stopping there, although he had become bitter
enemy to the Tollivers He left the hotel, say
ing he would be gone two days, but he did not
return for week. and when he did come back
he was accompanied by lib men, with whom to
raid the town and to avenge the death of his
nephews Coming to the hotel one even
Ing. he called Ramey out Ramey, unques-
toning, followed him short distance and
then asked him what he wanted. Logan did not
reply, but quickened his pace Ramey followed,
protesting the while that Logan was not treating
him right. Logan finally said to him: Hell
will be popping here before long, and almost
Immediately thereafter posse of men rose out
of the bushes and brought .her guns to their
shoulders. Ramey cried out: "For Gods sake
boys, don't spill any more blood; let the law
take it's course" At that moment shot rang
out sharply in another part of the place, sup
posedly fred by Craig Tollver This opened the
battle, and for an hour there was fierce fight,
in which thousand shots were fred, and in
which three Tollivers and others were killed.
Immediately thereafter the Rameys came to
Wisconsin w. NJ. Ramey owns farm near
Morehead, and is citizen in good standing
His whereabouts known in Morehead he
having eft there in broad daylight, 1.-The old
hut in the bluffs, as sensational correspondent
termed it. is no less than the handsome farm
residence OF j. j. Mckenzie fourteen miles
north of this city.
Mr.. Ramey says that he does not think that
his life would be safe in Kentucky, and that if
he can dispose of his property there, be will
mako Wisconsin his nermanant home